“picked up” = bastazo = to take up with the hands in order to carry or bear. There were no loose stones in Solomon’s Colonnade so the Jews went to get some ammunition with which to stone Jesus. Since there was constant remodelling work being done on the Temple, there would have been abundant large stones outside the walls.

The Jews were offended by Jesus declaring Himself and the Father to be one in nature and essence; and in their rage they ran to get stones with which to kill Him. They were acting rashly upon their emotions and not giving Jesus a trial in which to answer any charges they had against Him.